Chapter 1657 : A Game of Immortals

Simultaneously, deep within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea region in the immortal realm], the various major powers reacted differently to these events.

Within the Myriad Spirits Abode of Bliss [a blessed land of cultivation], Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor was engaged in a game of Go with a Black-Robed Daoist, each move on the board brimming with lethal intent.

After a moment of contemplation, Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor spoke with a placid expression, "I did not expect you would also involve yourself in the affairs of such juniors."

The Black-Robed Daoist shook his head and replied calmly, "The Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea already possesses two superior-grade Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm or paradise for cultivation]. A third should not emerge."

At this point, the Black-Robed Daoist inquired further, "You do not seem concerned?" Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor nodded slightly and stated, "They cannot kill him."

"Oh?" The Black-Robed Daoist was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. "I cannot fathom how he could possibly defy fate and alter his destiny."

Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor offered a faint smile. "As the Fourth Supreme Elder of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, your interference in the matters of a junior Heaven's Chosen [a prodigy favored by heaven] of the Human Race has already entangled you in karma. It is fitting that the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven should face a tribulation for this."

The black-robed man's expression turned severe, his gaze chilling. "Are you threatening me?" "What if I am?"

Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor spoke impassively, his profound gaze resting heavily upon the Black-Robed Daoist.

The Black-Robed Daoist drew a deep breath, offering no further reply to the other's words. Instead, he stated coldly, "The First Holy Son is but a single step away from achieving the Triple Taiyi Foundation [an exceptionally rare and powerful foundational cultivation stage]." For more chapters, visit audio-novel . com for the complete novel.

"His path is set, within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea realm in the immortal domain], none can slay him." "Is that so?"

Myriad Spirits Ancient Ancestor [a powerful ancient cultivator] gave an enigmatic smile, offering no reply to his statement. "..."

The battle within the Eight Trigrams Grand Formation [a supreme defensive and offensive array based on the eight trigrams] raged on for a full three hundred years.

Three centuries of desperate struggle, three centuries of Life and Death [a battle of ultimate consequence], and when the dust finally settled, the Eldrin's Hundred Seas [a region of interconnected seas] at last grew calm. Defying all expectations, after the final clash, not a single one of the seventeen Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the peak of the mortal realm, touching the threshold of true immortality] emerged alive.

"How is this possible?"

Upon discovering the complete annihilation of the seventeen Half-Step Celestial Immortal, someone cried out in shock, their face etched with disbelief.

Outside the grand formation, countless Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and achieved immortality] from various major factions spared no cost. After repeated divinations, they arrived at the same grim conclusion: all seventeen Half-Step Celestial Immortal had perished.

"Impossible! Seventeen Half-Step Celestial Immortal—how could they all have fallen in battle within the Abyssal Abode of Bliss [a fabled and dangerous paradise realm]?"

Everyone was utterly astounded. It was only some time later that several obscure spiritual imprints transmitted from within the Formation [the grand array].

An Immortal from the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a celestial realm and powerful faction] received the message, his expression complex as he spoke: "Our hidden agent has sent word. Our esteemed seniors were far too careless." "The Abyssal Immortal Alliance [a coalition of immortal forces] laid down a Ninth Rank Taiyi Slaughter Formation [a supreme-grade formation of immense destructive power]. Combined with the might of five Half-Step Celestial Immortal and figures like Abyssal Daoist [a title for a powerful cultivator associated with the abyss], their combat power was nearly on par with our seventeen Half-Step Celestial Immortal."

The intelligence agent from Western Qi Grotto-Heaven also gave a slight nod, his expression grim as he said, "Our sleeper agent within the Abyssal Immortal Alliance has sent word that the alliance is now under complete lockdown."

"It seems all the Earth Immortal Nine Layers experts of the Chen Immortal Clan have vanished. Even the several Half-Step Celestial Immortal cultivators are all wounded, and not a single soul can be seen."

"If my deductions are correct, while the Abyssal Immortal Alliance emerged victorious from this battle, it must have been a pyrrhic victory. Their ranks of Earth Immortal Nine Layers experts are nearly depleted, and a significant number of Half-Step Celestial Immortal cultivators must have also fallen."

The others present nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The sleeper agents planted by the various major powers within the Abyssal Immortal Alliance mostly occupied low-level positions; only a few had risen to mid-level ranks, and none could penetrate the inner circle.

These individuals, unable to access the core of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance, could only provide limited intelligence.

Yet, by piecing together these fragmented reports, they had largely deduced the outcome of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance's great war.

In their view, the Half-Step Celestial Immortal experts from the major powers possessed earth-shaking might. After three hundred years of continuous warfare, even if the Abyssal Immortal Alliance claimed victory, it would undoubtedly be a devastatingly costly one.

This speculation seemed confirmed by the previous sight of Eldrin Chen fighting a desperate, blood-soaked battle. Soon, intelligence and conjectures about the great war were relayed to their respective powers.

The various major powers received the news, each reacting with differing attitudes. "Useless. They couldn't even take down a single Abyssal Immortal Alliance."

Within the Profound Abyss Sea Region [a vast and perilous oceanic expanse in the immortal realm], the First Holy Son of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven gazed calmly at the intelligence report in his hand, his eyes turning cold as he spoke.

Beside the First Holy Son, a woman of peerless beauty took the report. After a moment, her gaze deepened, and she said, "The strength of the Second Holy Son is such that few within the Dual Taiyi Foundation [a profound cultivation foundation representing a dual mastery of cosmic principles] could rival him."

"Even he was defeated. It seems the Eight Trigrams Grand Formation [a supreme defensive formation based on the eight trigrams of the I Ching] truly is Valerius."

This woman's status was extraordinary; she was the Qingyao Holy Maiden, leader among the three Great Saint [a title for cultivators of immense power and virtue] maidens of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven. Her strength was nearly on par with the Second Holy Son. Having reviewed the intelligence, she inquired, "What do you intend to do about this matter concerning the Abyssal Immortal Alliance?"

The First Holy Son did not answer immediately. He looked beyond the Profound Abyss Sea Region, where countless Treasure Ship [massive enchanted vessels used for warfare and transport] stood arrayed like a forest, and endless legions of the Divine Race [a powerful faction claiming divine heritage] were relentlessly assaulting the Profound Abyss Sea Region.

After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke. "We have been at war with the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven for three hundred years. Unless they withdraw their forces, we cannot spare the strength to annihilate the Abyssal Sea Region." Access the full story on audio-novel[dot]com.

The Qingyao Holy Maiden shook her head, her eyes glinting with a cold light. "The First Divine Maiden of the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven walks the Water Essence Dao [the Dao Path of Water's fundamental essence], and the Second Divine Son follows the Path of Wood Primordial [the Dao Path of Wood's primordial origin]. They are our fated adversaries; they will not relent."

The First Holy Son nodded, a ripple of emotion stirring within his gaze.

The foundation of the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven's First Divine Maiden was comparable to an Eighth Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal who has transcended eight major tribulations]. He himself was an existence rivaling an Eight Tribulations Earth Immortal. For either of them, obtaining the other would allow them to cultivate the Triple Taiyi Perfected Foundation [the ultimate perfected foundation representing a triple mastery of the supreme unity].

The same was true for the Qingyao Holy Maiden and the Western Qi's Second Divine Son—both were existences at the Seven Tribulations Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of Earth Immortals who have weathered celestial tribulations]. If they could obtain each other's Dao Source [the fundamental source or core of one's cultivated Dao], their chances of achieving the Triple Taiyi Foundation would increase by ten or twenty percent.

With the aid of such treasures as the Innate Taiyi Pill [a legendary pill that can refine one's innate constitution], they would have a genuine chance to attempt the breakthrough. Therefore, abandoning this path was utterly unthinkable for the two of them.

Conversely, while the Abyssal Immortal Alliance [a powerful coalition of immortal cultivators] was formidable, it lacked any existence comparable to an Eight Tribulations Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], a factor that could not truly sway their hearts.

After much deliberation, the First Holy Son spoke, "That Eldrin, the Junior possesses talent as Valerius [peerless, unmatched]. If he is truly allowed to mature, I fear he will become a calamitous threat to our very core."

"Although we cannot act directly, I believe there is one who can deal with him."

Hearing this, the Qingyao Holy Maiden [a holy maiden of a major sect] could not help but let a flicker of understanding pass through her eyes. "You mean to..." "Let the Dragon King of the Western Abyss [the sovereign ruler of the dragons in the Western Abyss] pass through," the First Holy Son affirmed with a nod before continuing. Seeing this, a faint, knowing smile touched the lips of the Qingyao Holy Maiden.

In her view, while the Abyssal Immortal Alliance had emerged victorious, it was a pyrrhic victory won at a grievous cost.

Even if Eldrin Chen were to break through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm just shy of becoming a true Celestial Immortal], deploying the Dragon King of the Western Abyss, a being of the Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme rank among Heavenly Immortals], would be like using a divine axe to slaughter a chicken—utterly overkill, leaving no room for any unforeseen outcome. This chapter is provided by audio-novel[dot]com. Support the original.